Heavy oil fuel



Patented Sept. 193i I UNITED-sures PATENT QFFICE NATHANIEL E. LOOMIS, or? WESTFIELD, NEW JEIisEY, ASSIGNOR .'ro STANDARD on. n DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, 'A CORPORATION or DELAWARE HEAVY on. FUEL No Drawing.

I O Y TlllS lnventlonrelatesto improvements 1n fuels for internal-combustion engines of the type in which a combustiblematerial is in-' 'troduced into a mass of highly compressed and heated air. The invention has particular (reference to fuels for engines of the Diesel type, and will be described for illus-. tration in this connection.

In accordance with the present invention, 1 acomponent adapted to secure substantially instantaneous and continuous ignition is added to Diesel fuel. Such component is preferably an organic compound containing nitrogen and oxygen. Nitro compounds, such as the alkyl esters ofnitrous acid, are particularly suitable, for example isopropyl nitrite, butylnitri'te and ethyl nitrite. The group of nitroparaflins, isomericwith the alkyl nitrites just mentioned, are also suitable. Thus, nitroethane and nitropentane .may be used with good results, Some aryl nitro compounds, especially dinitrobenzene and trinitrobenzene, may be used. Compounds of greater complexity-containing the N 0 group also will serve my purpose, for

example nitroso-isopropyl-para-toluidine.

A common property of allthesubstances mentioned'aboyeis the tendency to produce knockingordetonation when used as a component'o'f a gasoline fuel for internal-combustion engines. When used in a Diesel ,fuel, however, these compounds are not knock-producing but have predominantly rather'the opposite effect. Their function is to causeinstantaneous, or substantially instantaneous and continuous ignition of the fuel as it is injected, thus avoiding the accumulation of a large amount, of unburnt fuel in the cylinder and resultant generation of excessive pressuresat the time of ignition. One ormore of the members of the classes of compounds mentioned may be added. to Diesel fuel, especially heavy hydrocarbon oil fuels. In, general, a small amount of ignition-facilitating compound is s'ufiicient. When a highly effective compound, such as isopropy nitrite, is. used, amounts approxi-- mating 0.10% by volume of the oil W1ll give good results. Compounds of a lower degree 50 of effectiveness, such as dinitrobenzene, re-

ety of oils having widely rapid, or even explosive.

lppl ication filed February 15-, 1926. Serial No. 88,482.

quire tobe used in amounts up to about 5% of the volume of the oil. As is well known,

Diesel engines may be operated with a varities, and it is therefore lmpractical to give precise directions for each case. As one example of the use of the invention, the addition of 0.10% of isopropyl nitrite toi fuel oil of 20 to 32 B. may be specified.

For the proper operation of Diesel engines the fuel should be injected at such a rate that combustion takes place without substantial increase in the cylinder pressure. In practice, however, this desirable condition is not always obtained, due to the failure of the heavy hydro-carbon oil, or other fuel, to ignite as rapidly as it is injected. A considerable charge of fuel may accumulate inthe cylinder before ignition. When com-' bustioirdoes take place it is likely to be very.

The resulting sudden increase of pressure produces shocks that may be destructive to the engine. Even' where the violence of the action is not sufiiclent' to cause mechanical in ury, inefficient utilization of the'fuel results from thelack dilferent propermissible with the fuels heretofore known.

In this way the speed of the engine may be increased and greater horse-power obtained.

I The foregoing examples are-merely illustrative of preferred embodiments of the invention. Various changes may be made within the scope of the appended claims, in,

which it is m intention to claim all novelty inherent in the invention as broadly as the prior art permits.

I claim:

1. A fuel oil-for Diesel engines and the,

2. A fuel oil for Diesel engines and the like, zind comprising a heavy petroleum oil containing an alkyl nitrite in effective amount not greater than 5% by volume.

3. A fuel oil for Diesel engines and the like and comprising a heavy petroleum-oil containing isopropyl nitrite in amount about 0.10% by volume. NATHANIEL E. LOOMIS. 

